@bigbear, you also touch on something perhaps important-- "stage of life."

As children we are inherently selfish... "it's all about ME!" As we grow up, we become more aware that sometimes it's also about other people... first it becomes "about" a partner perhaps, then maybe children... then (for many) it becomes about "the world" when we realize we want our children to live in a better place... and maybe that becomes stronger when we have grandchildren and we're not so busy being parents anymore and instead have more time to think outside ourselves...